Multiple-control switch



Jan. 6, 1931. c. M. PETERSEN 7 1,787,915

MULTIPLE CONTROL SWITCH Filed July 3, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l CaflMPeZersen,

Jan. 6, 1931. c. M. PETERSEN MULTIPLE CONTROL SWITCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 3, 1928 CarlMPeie r-sc n,

W/rA/EssEs Jan. 6, 1931. C r 1,787,915

MULTIPLE CONTROL SWITCH Filed July 3, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 v, v Zlwuentor 78 I Carl MPetersew, W/TNE56ES.'--

Jan. 6, 1931. V J PETERSEN 1,787,915

MULT I PLE CONTROL SWITCH Filed July 3, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 amniot- UarZM.PeZ'ersen/,

attocmq other. Also, a practical, and verydesirable, object of the invention is to provide a con- Patented Jan. 6, 1931 'PATENTFOFVFICEA CARL M. PETERSEN, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO CIRCLE MFG. 00., OF

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY Q MULTIPLE-CONTROL swir'rcrr Application filed m s, 1928; Serial 1:. 290,173.

This invention relates to the subject of controller switches for electrical instruments and appliances, and more particularly to that class of switches for selectively controlling the heat supplied by a heating unit for various purposes, such as electric stoves, heating pads, motors, et cetera.

To that end a primary object of the invention contemplates a multi le control switch of the type referred to simple construction, and reliable and positive in its action,

while at the same time being easily and quickly changed from one set position to antroller switch construction which at all times will give a clear vision of the position of the switch, according to the selected heat desired.

With these and other objects in view which will be apparent to those familiar with the art without further description it will be understood that the invention'consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrange ment of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed. Though susceptible of structural modification without departure from the essentials of the invention a preferred and practical embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fragment of the device, showing the operating handle v and adjacentindex.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device with the front cover removed.

Figure 3 is-a side elevation, partly in section, exposing one of the individual switches. Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the switch device taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the device taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3. I

Figure 7 is a sectional view through th base of the device on the line 7 '7 of Fig. 2.

Figure 8 is a sectional view through the. insulation base of the device on the line 88 of Fig. 2.

Figure 9 is a rear elevation of the base of the device exposing a jumper or bridge strap particular electrical instrument or appliance;

with which it is associated, but for the purposes of this application it is suflicient to as sume that the switches an entirety is mounted in an upright position, as it would be for instance in connection with an electric stove unit. However, in any embodiment of the invention, or its use in connection with any particular apparatus or appliance, the device includes in its general organization an insulation base designated by the numeral 1,

provided in one side thereof with a plurality of spaced switch chambers 1, 2 and 3 separated by the insulating walls 4 and 5 and respectively housing individual or separate switches which may conveniently be designated by the reference letters A, B and C respectively. These several switches are intended to be selected and-operated consecutively for causing the heater unit of the apparatus or appliance to function low, medium, and igh, as well as off.

The several individual switches or switch units A, B and C may be and preferably are similar in construction and action and a detailed description of one will suffice for the others. Accordingly, it will be seen from the illustration herein that each individual switch or switch unit, which is housed in one :7

of the switch chambers in the base, preferably .is of the toggle-movement type. This switch or switch movement includes as a principal part an oscillating operating yoke 6 having a swinging back andv forth moveand is of substantially U-shape form pro vided at the ends of its side arms 7 with'the out-turned ivot pintles 8 having a free bearing in the earing notches '9 formed in the outer edges of the side walls of the switch chamber. One of these pivot pintles 8 of the switch yoke 6 has rigidly fitted thereto, at its intermediate. portion, the double bladed switch blade member 10 having the oppositely extending separate blade members 11-'-11 which are intended respectively to engage and disengage at the same time the oppositely arranged fixed knife-contacts 12 and '13 which are mounted atone end and within the switch recess 1, and at one end and without theswitch recess 1, respectively.

' The snapping or throwing of the yoke and the switch blade member carried thereby, of each switch unit, is accomplished through the intermediary of the coiled snapper spring 14, one end of which is held in position upon the holding lug or projection 15 in the cross-bar of the yoke 6 and the .other end of which b spring is connected to the lever arm 16 provided at one end of the switch actuator or actuating yoke 17 which is pivotally mounted on a universal pivot rod 18 fitted at its ends inholding plates or equivalent supporting members 19 at opposite ends or sides of the switch base 1.

The said switch actuator or yoke 17 is provided at its end opposite the lever arm 16 with a lever arm 20 also pivoted on the pivotal' rod 18 and having a bearing fork or notch 21 adapted to be engaged by the rounded nose 22 of the cam finger 23 carried by a swinging dog 24 which in turn is, carried by the operating member or lever 25 pivoted on asupporting pivot 26 (see Figures 3 and 4) This operating member or lever 25 may conveniently project through the front cover plate 27 of the device and has fitted thereto a handle or finger grip 28 which plays in front of an inductor index plate or dial 28 marked with the 011', low medium and high ositionsof the switch device.

It wi 1 now be observed from the description so far given, and referring particularly to the separate switch or switch unit A that the operation of this switch for selected positions and off is caused by the movement of the operating member or lever 25 in either direction. The movement of the operating member or lever is transmitted to the cam finger 23, the nose of which enters the bear ing fork or notch 21 of the lever arm 20 of the actuator or yoke 17 (Fig. 4), resulting in the swinging of the said actuator or yoke 17 on its pivot thereby transmitting motion to its other lever arm 16 .(Fig, 3) which in turn compresses the switch snapper-spring 14 and at the same time swings it within the switch yoke 6 past center of the latter. This movement" results in snapping the double-bladed I before,

switch-blade unit either into or out of engagement with the fixed knife-contacts 12 and 13, according to the direction in which the switch actuator or yoke 17 is thrown by the movement of the operating member or lever 25.

Referring to the separate switch or switch unit B the details of the switch proper are the same as the details of the switch proper or switch unit A already described, but in order to distinguish these two-switches as tothe wiring it will be seen that this switch or switch unit B has two sets of fixed knife-contacts, the same being 'numbered respectively 30 31 and 3233. Also, for the switch or switch unit B the actuator or yoke'therefor is designated 34. This switch actuator or yoke 34 is shorter than the switch actuator or yoke 17, but is mounted on the common pivot rod 18 and operates inside of the actuator or yoke 17. Also,the forked or notched lever arm 35 at one end of the switch actuator 34 is engaged by a separate cam finger 36 carried y the swinging dog 24 and spaced from and set laterally outof the plane of the cam finger 23 for the switch actuator 17 so that the actu ator 34 is operated independently of and consecutively with the actuator 17. The other lever arm 37 of the actuator 34 connects with the snapper spring of the individual switch or swltchunit B, in the same manner, as

'shown in Fig. 5.

The third individual switch or switch unit G likewise has its own switch actuator or yoke 38 pivoted on the common pivot rod 18 having at one end the forked or notched lever arm 39 which is engaged by the separate cam finger 40 carried by the swmging dog 24 but spaced from and set laterally out of line with the cam fingers 23 and 36 respectively for the actuator 17 and 34. The other lever arm 41 of the switch actuator or yoke 38 connects with the switch snapper spring in the manner shown inFig. 5.

Thus, it will be seen that on account of the spaced and the laterally out-of-line stepped relation of the cam fingers 23, 36 and 40 a movement of the operating member, or lever 25 in one direction, through. the extent of that movement, will respectively and consecutivethe opposite direction will consecutively operate the separate switches from hi h. medium and low, or from any of t ese. positions, back to the off position.

Now, in order further to visualize and explain the function of the multiple controller switch device reference now is made to the diagrammatic illustrations of Figs. 11, 12, 13 and 14 wherein the individual switches or switch units are designated respectively as A, B and C and the fixed knife-conswitch unit B, and the knife-contacts 12-13 and 12"--13 are respectively parts of the separate switches or switch units A and C;

It will also be seen fromthis dia amthat the contacts 12 and 12 of the switc es A and B are\ directly connected b the jumper or bridge strap 42, and that t e contacts 3233 are connected with the same binding post 43 and that the contacts 13 and 31 respectively of the switches Band C are united and connected with a common binding post 44. The heater unit designated by the reference letter H preferably is divided into two coils or parts a and I) each of which separately is adapted to, and has the capacity for, taking the full voltage. Therefore, it will be seen that on the low position the heater. unit H has double the resistance actually necessary and will therefore produce a very low heat.

The various positions of the switches for the several positions of the controller device are clearly shown in the diagrams of Figs. 11, 12 Band 14. In Fig. 11 there is shown the re ative positions of the switches when the operatin handle indicates the oil? position and in ig. 12 the switch A is closed and the switch B is also closed so that the relativearrangement of switches A and B are such that the entire heating unit is used as the 35 resistance, thereby giving a low heat. Re-

ferring to Fig. 13 it will be observed thatthe second switch B is shown thrown over in the opposite direction to the medium position, and at'this point only'one-half of the 40 heating unit is working but at its full capacity. Referring to Fig. 14 the third switch C is shown in operation and in this position the handle member is at the high location and in such'position both the parts a and b of the heater unit are working on a full voltage. Of course when the operating handle is moved from high to off the above actions are merely reversed. I

From the foregoing it is thought. that the construction, operation and advantages of ently-and consecutively operating the switch actuators.

2. An electrical control switch includin a plurality of separate switch units, a plurahty of switch actuators having a nested relation and each operatively connecting with one of the switch units to actuate the-same, and a single operating means for independently and consecutively operating the switch actuators in either direction.

3. An electricalcontrol switch including a base, a plurality of separate switch units carried by the base, a plurality of swinging switch actuators arranged in nested relation and of different lengths, each said actuator having an operative connection with one of the switch units, and a single operating member adapted to' have an operating engage ment consecutively with the switch actuators.

4. An electrical control switch including a base, a plurality of switch units, a plurality of nesting switch actuators pivotally supported and operatively connected at one end with one of the switch units and each pror vided at its other end with a forked element, and a common operating member carrying an operating dog having an independent but progressive operating engagement with the forked elements of the several switch units. 7 5. An electrical control switch including a base, a plurality of separate snap-switch units, a plurality of switch actuating yokes pivotally supported over the base and arranged in nested relation, each of said yokes having an operating connection at one end with one of the snap-switch units and at its other enil with a forked e1ement,.an(t1i an operatin ever carr in a swin 'n o rovided with a p'lurhlit? of spa dd and lziterally stepped cam-fingers which separately and consecutively engage the forked elements of the switch actuating yokes.

6. An electrical control switch including a base provided with a plurality of separate switch chambers, a snap-switch unit associated with each switch chamber and including spaced knife contacts and a spring-thrown switch-blade unit, a plurality of switch actuators arranged in nested relation and each having an operating connection with one of the snap-switches, and a common operating means having a progressive and consecutive operating engagement with the separate switch actuators for moving the same consecutively in either direction.

7 An electrical control device comprising a plurality of switches, a plurality of nested switch actuators individual, respectively, to said switches, and means for operating said actuators.

8. An electrical control device comprising a plurality of switches, a plurality of nested switch actuators individual, respectively, to

said switches, and a single operating means for said actuators effective to 'actuate the latter individually.

9. An electrical control device com rising a plurality of switches, a plurality 0 rotatable switch actuators individual, respectively, to said switches and having a common axis of rotation and being inclusive. of operator engaging portions disposed in difierent planes spaced longitudinally with respect to the axis of rotation of said actuators, and an operator having means for successive engagement with said portions during continuous movement of the actuator. v

10. An electrical control device comprising a plurality of switches, a plurality of switch actuators individual, respectively, to said switches, and a rotatable operator for said actuators having actuator engaging portions disposed in different planes spaced longitudinally with respect to the axis of rotation of said operator and adapted for individual successive engagement with said actuators respectively during continuous movement of said operator.

11. An electrical control device comprising a plurality of switches, a plurality of rotat-.

able switch actuators having a common axis of rotation and extending in radial spaced overlying relation with respect to one another, and means for operating said actuators.

12. An electrical control device comprising a plurality'of switches, a plurality of rotatable switch actuators having a common axis of rotation and extending in radial spaced overlying relation with respect to one another, and a single means for successively operating said actuators during continuous movement of said means in a single direction.

- In testimony whereof I hereunto afli my signature.

' CARL M.-PETERSEN 

